The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), founded in 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas, is the oldest and one of the most prominent Hispanic civil rights organizations in the United States. Established by Mexican American veterans of World War I, LULAC aimed to combat discrimination, promote civic engagement, and advocate for the rights of Hispanic Americans. Over its nearly century-long history, the organization has been instrumental in advancing voting rights, education access, and economic opportunities for Latinos, often in the face of systemic racism and exclusion. However, a controversial moment in LULAC’s history involves its former leader, Felix Tijerin, and his rejection of a proposed Black and Brown coalition, a stance that has been criticized as racist and divisive.
LULAC was born out of the need to address the pervasive discrimination faced by Mexican Americans in the early 20th century. The organization’s founders, many of whom were veterans, sought to unify Hispanic communities to fight for equal treatment under the law. LULAC’s early efforts included challenging segregation in schools, advocating for fair employment practices, and pushing for greater political representation. Notable achievements include its role in the 1949 case of Felix Longoria, a Mexican American soldier denied funeral services due to his ethnicity, which LULAC successfully protested, leading to national attention and intervention by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson.
Today, LULAC continues to advocate for Latino communities, focusing on issues such as voter suppression, education equity, and immigration reform. The organization has also worked to build bridges with other marginalized groups, including recent collaborations with the NAACP to address hate crimes and voter intimidation. However, its history is not without blemishes, particularly regarding its approach to alliances with African American communities.
“Let the Negro fight his own battles. His problems are not mine. I don’t want to ally with him.”
Felix Tijerina, a prominent LULAC leader in the 1950s and 1960s, served as the organization’s national president from 1956 to 1960. A successful businessman and civic leader in Houston, Tijerina was influential in expanding LULAC’s reach and promoting assimilationist strategies, encouraging Mexican Americans to embrace American identity while fighting discrimination. However, his tenure is marred by a controversial stance that has drawn accusations of racism.
In the 1950s, as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, there were efforts to form coalitions between African American and Latino communities to address shared struggles against systemic racism. The NAACP, a leading African American civil rights organization, sought to collaborate with LULAC to oppose legislation that would undermine the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which desegregated schools in 1954. This proposed “Black and Brown coalition” aimed to unite the two groups in a powerful alliance to combat discriminatory policies.
Tijerina, however, rejected this collaboration. In a statement attributed to him in 1957, he reportedly said, “Let the Negro fight his own battles. His problems are not mine. I don’t want to ally with him.” This response was made in the context of LULAC’s resistance to certain bills that would circumvent Brown v. Board of Education. His refusal to join forces with the NAACP was seen as a rejection of solidarity between Black and Latino communities, prioritizing Mexican American issues over a broader fight against racism.
Tijerina’s statement reflected a broader tension within LULAC at the time. The organization’s early leaders often emphasized assimilation into mainstream American society, distancing themselves from other marginalized groups to gain acceptance from white institutions. This approach was rooted in the belief that Mexican Americans could achieve equality by proving their “Americanness,” a strategy that sometimes led to friction with African American civil rights efforts. Critics argue that Tijerina’s rejection of the Black and Brown coalition was not only shortsighted but also perpetuated division among communities facing similar forms of oppression.
The statement has been widely criticized as racist, as it dismissed the shared struggles of African Americans and Latinos, ignoring the potential for a united front against systemic discrimination. Posts on X have highlighted this quote as evidence of LULAC’s historical reluctance to embrace interracial solidarity, with some users pointing to it as a stain on the organization’s legacy. These criticisms resurfaced in 2024 when LULAC announced its first-ever presidential endorsement for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, prompting renewed scrutiny of its past positions on coalition-building.
While Tijerina’s stance was a low point in LULAC’s history, the organization has since made efforts to foster alliances with other communities. In recent years, LULAC has collaborated with the NAACP to address issues like racist text messages targeting Latino and Black communities following the 2024 election. Juan Proaño, LULAC’s CEO, emphasized the organization’s commitment to working with other civil rights groups to combat hate and voter suppression.
Moreover, the broader context of Black and Brown coalition-building has seen renewed interest. In October 2024, Martin Luther King Jr.’s son and daughter-in-law launched a national Black-Latino coalition to increase civic participation, address hate crimes, and advocate for policies tackling poverty and inequality. This effort echoes the unrealized vision of Dr. King, who had sought to build such a coalition before his assassination in 1968. While past attempts at such coalitions have faced challenges due to infighting and competing agendas, local Black and Brown coalitions have shown success in various regions, suggesting potential for future collaboration.
LULAC’s history is a complex tapestry of advocacy and controversy. While the organization has been a cornerstone of Latino civil rights, Felix Tijerina’s rejection of a Black and Brown coalition in the 1950s remains a troubling chapter. His statement, “Let the Negro fight his own battles,” underscored a missed opportunity for solidarity at a critical moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Today, as LULAC navigates new challenges, including voter suppression and rising hate crimes, it has shown a willingness to engage in coalition-building with groups like the NAACP. This evolution reflects a recognition that the fight for justice is stronger when communities unite, a lesson that continues to shape the organization’s path forward.